According to former FAA Inspector
Gabe Bruno, at least one of the mechanics that worked on a Chalk's
Ocean Airways Grumman Mallard which went down shortly after takeoff
from Miami in 2005 was unqualified for the work, and the FAA is
covering up the mistake.

Gabe Bruno told The Washington Examiner that the mechanic in
question was tested an licensed by Anthony St. George, who was
convicted and sentenced to prison for essentially selling
licenses. The 58-year-old G-73T lost a wing shortly after
takeoff and fell into the water in sight of beachgoers in Miami,
killing all 20 on board.

Bruno told the Examiner he had instituted a retesting program
for mechanics licensed by St. George. About 300 of the more
than 2000 mechanics were retested, with a failure rate of over 75
percent. But the program was cancelled by former assistant
Administrator Nicholas Sabatini. And when it was reinstated,
“it was a rubber-stamp sham, with nobody assigned to monitor
the results,” Bruno said.

File Photo

Now, The Examiner reports that Bruno has asked the Office of
Special Counsel to refer the Chalk's Ocean Airways accident to the
Department of Justice to file numerous charges, including
manslaughter, criminal negligence, and a cover up by FAA officials.
“At one time, FAA was the gold standard in the world,”
Bruno told the paper. “But for the past several years,
there’s been a lot of disregard for the standards” of
aviation safety.